90th Annual RTA Technical Conference & Symposium
You can now register online for the fall conference to be held in Savannah, GA from October 29 through 31. See the Meetings / Seminars section for event registration.
Congratulations to the 2008 Railway Tie Association Award Recipients
Branding Hammer Award - T. Preston Painter - Norfolk Southern Corp., Retired
Broad Axe Award - Elton McGough - Koppers Inc., Retired
Silver Saw Award - Charles Parker Dempsey - Dempsey Wood Products, Inc.
RTA Announces the 2008 John Mabry Forestry Scholarship Winners
Congratulations to Melissa Ann Stevens and Audrey Haley Shelby who are the new RTA Scholarship winners.
Melissa Stevens is the first applicant in the 24-year history of this scholarship to be a winner two years in a row. She completed two years at Allegany College of Maryland with a Summa Cum Laude A.A.S. in Forest Technology. This year she enters West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV to continue her studies in Forest Resource Management.
Audrey Shelby will start her Junior year at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX this fall. Her major is Forest Management.
We are delighted to welcome Melissa and Audrey to the distinguished list of John Mabry Forestry Scholarship Winners.
Field Trip
The 2008 RTA Field Trip was a huge success again. 37 members visited sawmills, treating plants, and other facilities in 3 different states. Watch for the article with numerous photographs in the July/August issue of the Crossties magazine.
Industry News
Plant News
Blair Simpson Appointed Koppers Plant Manager
Blair Simpson, Jr. was appointed Plant Manager of the Green Spring, WV plant, effective June 1, 2008. He reports to Operations Manager, Steve Lish and is responsible for the daily operations of the treating plant with primary emphasis on safety and environmental compliance, financial and production performance, and the training and development of all employees. Blair has seven years experience with Koppers, most recently as Assistant Plant Manger at Green Spring.
Tim Ries Elected to Koppers Advisory Board
Congratulations to Tim Ries, Plant Manager at the RP&S plant in Roanoke, VA, who was recently elected to the advisory board of the Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center.
Stickney Attains Safety Performance Award
On. May 8, 2008, four members of the safety team at Koppers CM&C plant in Stickney, IL accepted the prestigious Illinois Safety Council's Safety and Health Outstanding Safety Performance Award during the ISC Safety & Health Expo. The award was based on the plant's Days Away Rate for 2007, which was zero. Plant Manager Dick Wagner, Safety Manager Gregg Bambule, Paul Carenen, and Rob Ruhle were present to accept the award.